Gauchos Tumble in NCAA Second Round at UC Berkeley

It’s never easy to close out a season on a losing note, but Gaucho soccer faced heartbreak yesterday, giving up a 1-0 lead to the Bears with just two minutes to play in regulation, before giving up the match with two seconds remaining in overtime.

[media-credit name=”Jeff Imamura” align=”alignleft” width=”250″][/media-credit]“The whole team is in shock right now,” senior defender Michael Boxall said. “We thought we had done all we needed to get a result, battled hard even with a man down, dominating large parts of the game.”

The match was fast-paced, both teams playing aggressively from the outset. Eight cards were distributed during the match, and both Boxall and junior midfielder Michael Tetteh required stitches after on-field collisions with Cal players. Tetteh also changed his jersey due to blood stains from a gash on his forehead.

One card, dealt in the 24th minute on a ball contested at midfield by UCSB junior midfielder Luis Silva proved to be a game-changer.

Silva slid at the ball while the Golden Bears’ Servando Carrasco tried to corral it, resulting in an altercation in which Carrasco shoved Silva to the ground. Carrasco dropped to the ground shortly after. Silva received a red card and an ejection, while Carrasco received a yellow, forcing UCSB to play the remainder of the match one player down. The call was hotly contested by the Gaucho bench and coaching staff, but to no avail.

“It’s just a regular physical game,” Carrasco said of his run-in with Silva. “We both wanted to win, he came in studs up and he got a red card and we played on. There’s nothing I can say about that. I was mad, but it’s all part of the game.”

Despite Silva’s absence on the field, UCSB still outshot the Bears in the first half six to five and finished the game with 16, nine on goal. One of those shots came in the second half off the foot of Tetteh, which he powered left past the outstretched arms of Berkeley’s goalkeeper David Bingham in the 81st minute.

“Sometimes when you go a man down, you actually play a little bit better,” Cal Head Coach Kevin Grimes said. “You have to work that much harder.”

A called Gaucho handball in the box led to a penalty kick from Carrasco in the 88th minute. Carrasco, in a one-on-one situation with UCSB’s goalkeeper, senior Sam Hayden, managed to put the ball in the back of the net to even the score at one goal apiece.

In overtime, Berkeley’s Davis Paul was able to keep his team’s hopes alive. Paul took a pass in the box and caught Hayden out of position with only two seconds remaining in the first overtime period after Hayden attempted to break up the play on the pass.

UCSB’s early exit from the NCAA playoffs comes in a year when the College Cup — soccer’s version of the Final Four — is to be held in Santa Barbara.

“The idea of playing in Santa Barbara in front of 15 or 16,000 people drove this group and drove the coaching staff,” Vom Steeg said. “We weren’t going to let anything stand in our way, and today was something we couldn’t help.”

The Gauchos finish their season at 14-5-3, having made their ninth straight NCAA appearance. The squad’s three seniors, Hayden, Boxall and forward Joe Eubanks also closed out their careers in Gaucho blue on Sunday.

“To have all those factors against us and still dominate as we did, to outplay Cal at their home, we’re proud of how we played,” Boxall said. “But the most important thing is the result and obviously that didn’t go our way.”

Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg’s post-game press conference dealt largely with the controversial calls on the field and his distaste with the NCAA officiating standards.

“You talk about controlling what you can control, and my guys played their hearts out with a man down,” Vom Steeg said.

Cal now moves on to play Brown next Sunday in the tournament’s third round.

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So there was this secret government facility with a verbal password. you say the password and the door opens. They made the password a phrase that would never ever be spoken aloud:

“I got into Berkeley but I decided to go to Santa Barbara instead.”

yober

November 24, 2010 at 7:51 pm

haha. isn’t that what stanford says about you? i mean, that’s the joke they say about your rivalry all the time. from the minute there was a rivalry they’ve been saying that about ucb.

OH! i see what you did there! you used that joke they always say. about you. on us. clever girl..

george

November 24, 2010 at 7:55 pm

Cleverer than you.

You guys slam us for being less than Stanford when there is absolutely no one that would consider going to UCSB over UCB.

It’s like a real ugly girl telling a hot chick that she’s not as pretty as Jessica Alba. “So what” says the hot chick — you’re still uglier than everyone.

yober

November 24, 2010 at 8:27 pm

i just really enjoy how you’re so touchy about it. it’s like your older brother that you’ll never live up to.

the point is that its stupid to squabble about where you spent your time doing undergrad, because its just a reflection of how well you played the game in high school. when people say “it’s what you make of it,” they really are telling the truth, because both institutions have produced well respected doctors and writers, and probably bums and losers. ucsb just has less students imprisoned in iran.

and if the statistic hasnt changed since i graduated, ucsb has won as many nobel prizes as cal in a similar time period, say, the last 50 years or so. are you guys awake?

gaucho pride. nationwide.

Jeremy

November 23, 2010 at 3:35 pm

Interesting comment in the Santa Barbara News Press about how the NCAA violated its own rules by appointing a referee with insufficient experience to officiate this game. I see this as the only OBJECTIVE complaint the Gauchos can make, other than arguing this guy was horrible, biased, etc., all of which are subjective complaints. Of course the NCAA can’t go back and have the game be replayed or anything like that, but hopefully this will serve as a mitigating factor when the punishment is dished out. It’s just a shame to have what could have been a dream sesaon end like this.

William

November 23, 2010 at 6:22 pm

It is very normal procedure for a referee at this level to have a debriefing about his own performance with other referees. None of the results of which will be made public. This is how referees develop their skills. If he made a mistake, or several, he will know about it without having the read the morning paper.

I can assure you that the investigation is not at all going to cover the quality of the refereeing of the match. They are being quite clear with what the investigation is about.

Tim lockton

November 23, 2010 at 11:30 am

I have served as a referee for high school soccer for the past 6 years in the bay area and as a long time fan of cal soccer, I attended the game. I wasn’t aware of the post game actions ( I didn’t see any at all) but reading the analysis on the daily cal, and then this site, I have to state my opinion. I thoughtthe action by silva that led to the red was an obvious mistake on his part, he was going for the ball. Carassco over reacted and dealt what looked like a clean hit to the face. In all honestly, I would have pulled a red on Carassco and let silva off. Later on the hand ball that led to the pk, it looked to me like an example of ball to hand ( unintentional) instead of hand to ball ( intentional). I do think the center ref played god -I don’t believe that the referee called a fair game, but ucsb’s actions didn’t earn them any favors either way.

Soccer Fan

November 23, 2010 at 8:26 am

The NCAA has requested tapes of the game and most importantly for the after game assault on the referees. An investigation by the UCSB athletic director as well a County of Alameda are underway. Criminal penalties as well as NCAA sanctions can be applied. The game results and actions on the field are secondary to the poor judgement of players and coaches who participated in the altercations after the game.

that’s why you are a “soccer fan” and not a “football fan–” there is a difference!!!!!!!

Soccer Fan

November 23, 2010 at 9:22 am

I have no sweat in the game here but see a trend that could lead to serious consequences for these boys. One former player has already experienced the strong arm of the law for rape. You should back off this topic and slow down a little and let cooler heads prevail. According to the other blog spots you seem to be threatening others. As a UCSB soccer fan I hope that this behavior is stopped and that ugly fans lets others investigate so we feel safe to bring the kids to a home game.

I stopped shoulding myself years ago and started living, I obey the law and advising Cal supporters, players etc. NOT to come to Harder Stadium should they cheat there way to the semifinals is not a threat, but advice, I LOVE this game, fell in love in Argentina where poor folks have their team and their game and it means the world. That’s how our team at UCSB plays, all heart and if you are a fan, a true one, you will join me in protesting the NCAA and its lame event this year, I accept our hosting only so we can get a killer scoreboard and video screen for our future Gaucho games. I will be rooting for the Gauchos on December 10th starting at 5:30pm at Harder Stadium——————-God willing, I’ll see you all there; GO GAUCHOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=123051777758745

UCSB is a school for whining babies and a soccer team full of foreign players paid under the table by Vom(it) Steeg and his henchmen. Follow the money and see where it leads– to the spoiled whiney Douchos.

Cal player never fell down. It was 50/50 and Silva won and kicks out the ball. Cal player takes two steps (without limp) lunges at Silva and strikes him in the face….. Then after, wilts to the ground in a Euro “fake hurt” fetal position.

Referee watched the whole thing unfold from less than 10 yards away.

How does a player willfully strike another player in the face in retaliation and not get a red card?

Referee had plenty of time to think it over.

Referee made wrong call.

Referee continued to make wrong calls throughout game.

Players were confused.

Coaches were confused.

Fans were confused.

As for the end of the game, I never saw any punches thrown at ref.

What I saw was players getting up in his face asking for an explanation as to why he missed an obvious hand ball that led to game winning score. And yes, they were upset. Referee continued to keep backing up until he hit the outer portion of the track – then was picked up by golf cart and sped away.

Watching this game was like watching the Lakers/Kings 2002 NBA Finals and NBA referee Tim Donaghy.

The NCAA should do an investigation.

They should play the game over if the NCAA finds fault with referee.

William

November 23, 2010 at 8:37 am

I have no interest in this match and have been refereeing for 5 years now. I am viewing a grainy video that most have probably seen and was not at the match.

The initial tackle was a send off for sure. Serious Foul Play, at a minimum, but probably violent conduct. A lot would depend on what happened between these two players earlier in the game. I am seeing an isolated incident but the referee has been on the field listening and watching their interactions.

The video shows the white player shoving. I am not seeing a punch as many are claiming. It is a grainy image, so I have to defer to the referee who is about 4 yards away and looking straight at it. If the referee determines this to be Violent Conduct, then it’s a send off, otherwise it’s a caution for Unsporting Behavior. The threshold for Violent Conduct is solely in the opinion of the referee.

I see nothing in the video that would cause me to have called this [isolated] incident any differently.

look again after 10 years of reffing, your skills and knowledge will improve, watch some pro games on t.v. go to some pro matches——————-

Allan

November 22, 2010 at 5:37 pm

The red card was a horrible decision, but kudos to UCSB for playing tough despite the numerical disadvantage. That said, the coaching staff has to do a better job in cooling the players down. Question: Why do the UCSB supporters throw tortillas????

george

November 22, 2010 at 7:31 pm

Because the Ken and Barbies are used to having others clean up after them.

Dan

November 22, 2010 at 11:26 pm

Yes, that’s why George. Just because UCSB has an attractive student body and Cal has the ugliest students in the Pac-10 doesn’t mean you have to be bitter.

I was at the game and the best men(Cal won) again.
The behavior of UCSB team and coach’s behavior was was nothing short of shameful!
Talk about sore losers with a capital L!
I sincerely hope their bad behavior is NOT rewarded in any way.
Wondering if anyone is going to man up and offer an apology?

Tabasco

November 22, 2010 at 5:10 pm

I didnt hear about the brawl after the game. Awesome. When someone takes something from you, you take it back. And if they don’t have it anymore, you take its weight in tears and blood. Gaucho til i DIE

Where’s video? Someone was filming somewhere—————look forward to the youtube feed, or UC sports website offering of video soon — I am concerned for Cal’s safety should they advance to the College Cup at UCSB……. Truth sets us free, and video would be a welcome clarification……. Just based on the newspress radio commentating, I expected to hear about formal protests by UCSB and investigations into the bias of Northern California referees. I look forward to seeing video, a disclosure of facts, a Silva update, “is he okay?”

My dreams were dashed, and there were a lot of referee calls yesterday, in long I want an NCAA report, a statement, MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The UCSB sports site news report was so impassioned it seemed to be written under orders to avoid controversy, the kind that stir up activism in a place notorious for burning a bank in protest of war years ago, and throwing goals in oceans….. tortillas on fields……. what will happen to Cal if they advance to a Harder Stadium final four game?

UCB Fan

November 24, 2010 at 5:36 pm

Bill, I guess if they advance, a lot of supposedly recovering alcoholic, god loving sb fans will want to beat them up, just like their favorite players did to the ref.

That is what you are implying, right, just like you implied on the Daily Cal pages.

that’s called a “double yellow card” at worst, that early in the game!!!!!!! The Gauchos were robbed and should protest, stir something up as College Cup hosts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrew

November 22, 2010 at 12:24 pm

It wasn’t just the UCSB supporters who saw a punch. Radio broadcasters, sports author Mark Patton, and the Presidio Sports articles all saw a clean clocking by Cal’s player. At the very least call it a red on both players, but in a 50/50 challenge with retaliation, to call an imbalanced response is horrible reffing.

As for the hand ball that tied the game, there’s a difference between hand-to-ball or ball-to-hand contact. One is intentional and a cardable offense. The other is incidental. In the case that a ball is booted from 25 yards out towards the very edge of the box with two minutes left, the Northern Californian ref awarded the Bears with a pk. Even if Silva was correctly awarded a red card, this call comes after the remaining 10 players fought for their win. The ref took that game to OT, not Cal.

Allan

November 22, 2010 at 12:34 pm

I think the only one who saw the punch was the radio commentator who said that there was a punch that sent the UCSB player to the hospital. The UCSB followers started receiving text messages that the radio commentator had seen that. All of a sudden, everyone in the stadium saw that the UCSB player had been punched. One day later, a tall tale gets taller. Some posters are saying that the UCSB player was sucker-punched when he was already on the ground. I’m sure the tale will get taller as the days go by. I was pretty much right in front of the play (it was a little to my right). The Cal player shoved the UCSB player away when they were “in each other’s face” when they both got up after the challenge. I think the red charge on the UCSB player for the challenge was harsh. Additionally, there are clearly instances of a player being red carded for retaliation (Kluivert and Beckham in ’98 for instance). Then again, more times than not, a shove results in a yellow. And it was a shove, not a punch. I know it’s hard to lose a game where you arguably outplayed the other team being a man down, because of controversial calls, and even more so when it’s a sport that you deeply care about. But let’s not add to the flames by calling a shove a punch, because it was not.

William

November 23, 2010 at 8:40 am

Exactly. I am just not seeing a punch in this video. The video does clearly show how far away the referee was. He was there and had an excellent view.

Open Stud Tackle

November 22, 2010 at 12:40 pm

No way in heck was that a 50/50 challenge. I was an open stud tackle to the Cal players shin. That type of tackle usually breaks a leg.

I have been playing and watching this sport for 40 years. An open stud tackle to the shin is an automatic red card any time.

yea, but he hit the soccer ball. you can see it in the video. those 40 years of soccer must be wearing on your eyes, oldtimer

William

November 23, 2010 at 8:42 am

“Ref I got the ball first” is a myth that many players believe absolves them of all responsibility. It is wrong.

Not getting the ball first will almost guarantee that a foul occurred, but is not the only thing. There are plenty of things that can be done after touching the ball that will cause a call.

jace

November 22, 2010 at 11:57 am

Bringing referees from the the Bekeley area is something the NCAA needs to revise. Most other sports bring in referees from other conferences to do tournament or bowl games. The referees were a disgrace to soccer and could have cause a really bad situation to all athletes on the field. Yes the Gauchos players may have over reacted after the game, but who wouldn’t after the display of incompetence of recreational referees at best.

joe

November 22, 2010 at 12:29 pm

“May have overreacted”? God, what bs. Punching one in the stomach, grabbing another ref running away from the mob by his shirt and pulling him back to be punched, the mascot having to be detained by police, UCB student workers trying to protect the refs had punches thrown at them, the UCSB trainer showed up and instead of holding back his players, encouraged them and accused UCB staff of inciting them?

That’s not an overreaction. That is assault and the gauchos are lucky they didn’t do their post game “refs stole it” whine from the Berkeley jail house.

Overreaction? What bs.

UCB Fan

November 22, 2010 at 12:32 pm

You give Jace too much credit, Joe. She doesn’t even admit to overreaction. She says “may have”.

You want to know why everyone in the soccer world thinks that SB plays dirty? Because their coaches and their fans think the dirty play just “may” be an overreaction.

Even their fans are so messed up that they can’t admit to legal criminal assault when they see it.

GauchoFan

November 22, 2010 at 4:51 pm

In NO way is “Big Mike” (The guy you called the mascot) affiliated with the university. He graduated roughly 8 years ago and has been banned from Harder Stadium multiple times. He is a huge joke and obviously not a good person, as I witnessed him screaming at a bunch of 10 year old Cal fans while aggressively getting in their faces. No one can defend the conduct of the UCSB coaches or players. However, I salute the fans (of both teams) who cheered their team on in spite of all the on field turmoil and I am proud to be part of the best college soccer fanbase in the country. While I disagree with a number of the referee’s decisions and I admit to feeling “robbed”, I had a very respectful conversation with an older Cal alumnus on the way out of the stadium in which we both apologized for the conduct of our respective teams and bemoaned the lack of control exhibited by the head official. Not a proud day for UCSB, but at least both schools fans combined to make an unforgettable atmosphere for college soccer.

george

November 22, 2010 at 3:28 am

Gee, no mention of the MASSIVE unsportsmanlike conduct after the game? Gaucho players chased and assaulted the refs — punching one in the stomach and pulling another back by his shirt and he tried to escape the thugs? And the Gaucho mascot got detained by the cops for swinging at student workers staffing the game? No mention of the three post-game red cards and probable penalties coming from the NCAA?

Fair and balanced?

Matt

November 22, 2010 at 9:14 am

Were you even at this game? Because I was… and everyone that walked out of the stadium said the same thing: that was not a soccer game we watched. The lauded Cal Berkeley won a game, not because of skill or talent, but because of the most shameful refereeing I had ever seen. Carrasco did not shove Silva, as this writer suggests, but flat out punched him in the face. This is not a difference in opinion… this is a fact. I saw it happen. The fact that a red card is given to someone who is punched in the face is an absolute disgrace.

And that “handball” in the box was an absolute joke. Nowhere can I find a reasonable assessment of what actually happened there, so it comes down to the referee essentially playing God within the last minute or so of the game. So, yeah, it goes without saying that our players were cheated and were knocked out of the tournament by a renegade referee.

You want to discuss bias? Read your own article. There is NO mention of Carrasco’s assault. Anywhere. Seeing as it has been discussed in every post-game article thus far, I would find that entirely embarrassing for your newspaper.

Allan

November 22, 2010 at 11:46 am

There was no punch in the face. He shoved him in the neck/chest area. Then they both went to the ground seeing who could outdo the other dramatically. I don’t think the original challenge merited a straight red and (never having seen another college soccer game) I have seen reds given for shoving another player in retaliation, although that probably wasn’t warranted here. He shoved the UCSB player away when they were both “getting in each others face” as they got up after the challenge. But let me repeat, there was no punch. That’s one person’s lie being repeated as mass hysteria. Or something someone (wishfully?) thought he/she saw. I was near the play (it was about 5-10 yards to the right of where I was sitting) while the UCSB supporters were way further to the left, about 40 yards from the play and in addition may have had their view impaired by the time-keepers table (which was tented) at midfield.

Tabasco

November 22, 2010 at 11:41 pm

he dramatically fell to the ground after being “shoved” in the “neck/chest”? okaaayyy

joe

November 22, 2010 at 11:56 am

You’re right, Matt. It wasn’t a soccer game with UCSB there. It was a brawl.

HOW do you justify that the players tried to beat up the refs. I guess the SB strategy is that if they can’t beat the team, then they will LITERALLY beat the refs.

Yes, UCSB outplayed Cal. And if UCSB played cleanly they would have won. But dirty play brings red cards and PKs. You beat yourselves. Those were NCAA refs, not Pac10 refs.

And again — HOW CAN THIS STUDENT PAPER CLAIM TO BE RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WHEN THEY REFUSE TO MENTION THE POST GAME ASSAULT?

Matt Is Blind

November 23, 2010 at 1:02 am

Matt, you are full of it. UCSB’s Silva came in studs up, straight leg on Carrasco, and would have broken his leg if Carrasco had not been quick enough to hop at the last second, avoiding a compound fracture. This was clearly visible from the stands and the referee had an even better view. Red card to Silva – no brainer. Carrasco reacted to the near career ending injury by shoving Silva on the shoulder and down went Silva, down went Silva, writhing around like Cristiano Ronaldo. Carrasco deserved a yellow for the shove– there was no punch and that was clear to everyone who watched what was happening except for the lying UCSB head coach and the lying UCSB tortilla throwing morons.

Let’s watch the NCAA put UCSB on a three year postseason ban for their total lack of self control. That’s what you get from a Vom(it) Steeg coached team.

chris

November 22, 2010 at 9:17 am

UCSB’s reaction after the gamne was a total embarassment. I have never seen a team and coaching staff attack the referees like that. Coach should be canned and all of the players booted from the team. What a joke after a hard fought game

Matt Is Blind

November 23, 2010 at 1:06 am

UCSB – backup school for Kens and Barbies who can’t hack it in the real world. They’ll be working for Cal grads some day. Maybe we’ll give them a job in the mail room– if they can keep up. Might be a problem with Vom(it) Steeg leading the way.

Tabasco

November 23, 2010 at 1:41 am

who are you going to get to go to your mailroom in a prison in iran? sorry to ask but im too dumb to go walking across a fuzzy border to an oppressive theocracy to find out the answer myself.

you guys.. great shame on famiree

Gaucho

November 24, 2010 at 12:20 am

Berkeley- A place where people with no social skills go after being rejected from Stanford. Leads to a job giving tours of the Berkeley campus to others without social skills and cleaning up the bums fecal matter from the “prestigious” campus.

UCB Fan

November 24, 2010 at 5:43 pm

Dude, if Cal students are below Stanford, where do you think you are on that food chain.